Ascending Spiral Paths: An Integrated Approach to Understanding Personality Development Using Jungian and Psychoanalytic Theory
Presented by: Dr. Matthew Bennett, PhD [Study Group] [4-Days]

Four sessions, the second Saturday of the month: Dec. 14, 2024; Jan 11, Feb. 8, Mar. 8, 2025  | 10:00am – 12:00pm

NARRATIVE:

Psychologist, lecturer, and author Dr. Matthew Bennett will review the content of his recently released book, Integrated Analytical Psychology: Return to Freedom and Dignity.  The author reviews an integrative circumplex model of personality development combining the Jungian perspective of archetypal thematic content with psychoanalytic models emphasizing self-psychology and the progressive influence of defenses in personality development.  The integrative analytical model integrates an ascending evolution of mental representation ranging from archetypal origins to manifested behavioral traits, with four thematic “quadrants” comprising content of the personality styles depicted in the literature of applied clinical psychology.  An evolutionary ascending spiral path ties together the levels and quadrants of personality development in a compelling narrative of personality development which combines Jungian emphasis on archetypal experience with psychoanalytic sensibilities around defensive styles and their role in evolution of a sense of self.

GOALS:

Participants will be able to:

1. Differentiate among 6 levels of mental representation represented in psychoanalytic, Jungian, and cognitive-behavioral theoretical perspectives: archetype, symbol, object, complex, schema, and self.
2. Apply knowledge of four key personality organizations to psychotherapeutic methodology: schizoid, narcissistic, histrionic, and depressive personalities.
3. Describe key features of deterministic chaos theory and complex adaptive systems theory in relation to personality development.
4. Explain how knowledge of the above mentioned theories may be applied to psychotherapeutic process to enhance treatment outcomes for clients with psychopathology that arises from personality development.

SCHEDULE:

8:30 am           Registration

9 – 9:15           Introduction of presenter

9:15 – 10:00    Mental Representation and its role in Personality Development

Archetype

Symbol

Object

Complex

Schema

Self

10:00 – 10:30  Archetypal Axes of Personality Development

10:30 – 10:45 Break

10:45 – 12:00  The Spiral Developmental Path and the Archetypal Quadrants

1^st Quadrant:   Sensitive Personalities

2^nd Quadrant:  Imperial Personalities

3^rd Quadrant:   Radiant Personalities

4^th Quadrant:   Depressive Personalities

CONTENT CURRICULM

This seminar builds upon key theoretical perspectives on mental representation drawn from psychoanalytic theory, including object relations, self psychology, and intersubjective theory, as well as Jungian and post-Jungian perspectives, as well as complexity theory related to deterministic chaos and complex adaptive systems.

This presentation directly informs the clinical praxis of understanding and conceptualizing personality styles including direct explication of considerations for psychotherapeutic management. The presentation includes a review of theoretical considerations as well as praxis considerations which directly inform treatment planning, case conceptualization, and the boundaries established in psychotherapy.

The content of this presentation represents intermediate level application of principles of psychodynamically informed psychotherapy.  It presumes basic level knowledge of the assumptions and world-view inherent to several models of psychoanalytic psychotherapy (that is, basic knowledge the principles of object relations, self psychology, and related concepts).

The content of this presentation is comprehensively based in the established literature of contemporary psychoanalytically informed psychotherapy, especially as it related to the function and role of anxiety in human experience and behavior.  The theoretical concepts and applied methodologies are characteristic of the broadly accepted principles and theoretical frames associated with this well documented model of psychotherapy.  The inherent limitations of this content include the well-documented difficulties in establishing the empirical evidence of efficacy among competing models of psychotherapy, which are complicated by competing assumptions about what represents desirable outcomes (for example, perspectives on reducing versus tolerating anxiety, or the degree to which anxiety may be understood as adaptive or functional).  The risks involved in this presented content include transient discomfort and emotional impact involved in addressing anxiety states that will be familiar experiences for participants.

This presentation will include a discussion of the cultural, racial, and gender-based differences in the way personality structure manifests and is subjectively experienced.  For example, the discussion will include analysis of the complex role of gender in the manifestation of relational needs in personality development.

BIO:

Dr. Bennett is a licensed psychologist, lecturer, and administrator with experience in public sector mental health and substance abuse treatment. His clinical background is in inpatient psychiatric settings and outpatient community mental health settings. He was formerly founder and first Director of Training for the Ventura County Behavioral Health Pre-Doctoral Internship in Clinical Psychology and Chair of the Santa Barbara County Psychological Association.  He is a core faculty member at Pacifica Graduate Institute and currently chairs the Department of Counseling Psychology at Pacifica. His research interests include personality disorders, comparative personality theory, and internet applications for mental health. Dr. Bennett is also a returned Peace Corps volunteer (Poland III, 1991-1993).  He maintains a private practice in addition to his administration and teaching responsibilities.

COST: 

CIP Members:
$160 early registration up to 10 weekdays prior to first session, $200 after

Non-Members:
$200 early registration up to 10 weekdays prior to first session, $240 after

CEs: 8 CEs for LMFTs & LCSWs and 8 CEs for Psychologists. Certificates issued after completion of 4 sessions.

The Community Institute for Psychotherapy is approved by the American Psychological Association to sponsor continuing education for psychologists. The Community Institute for Psychotherapy maintains responsibility for these programs and their contents.

Accommodations will be made wherever possible for those with disabilities. Please let us know of any disabilities upon registration to ensure proper accommodations are put in place prior to the workshop/training.

Cancellations must be received in writing 10 business days prior to the seminar, class, or first study group session for a refund minus a $25 cancellation fee. Cancellations less than ten days will not be refunded.

Grievance Procedure: CIP will respond to complaints in a reasonable, ethical and timely manner, when submitted by program attendees in writing to the Chair of CIP’s Professional Development Committee.

Anti-Discrimination Policy: CIP shall not discriminate against any individual or group with respect to any service, program or activity based on gender, race, creed, national origin, sexual orientation, religion, age or other prohibited basis. CIP does not require attendees to adhere to any particular religion or creed in order to participate in training. CIP will not promote or advocate for a single modality of treatment that is discriminatory or likely to harm clients based on current accepted standards or practice.

*There is no conflict of interest or commercial support related to this CE program.